EXPRESSION OF HUMAN BONE MORPHOGENETIC PROTEINS-2 OR -4 IN MURINE MESENCHYMAL PROGENITOR C3H10T1 2 CELLS INDUCES DIFFERENTIATION INTO DISTINCT MESENCHYMAL CELL LINEAGES/

The cDNAs encoding the human bone morphogenetic proteins BMP-2 and BMP -4 in an eukaryotic expression vector were permanently transferred int o the murine mesenchymal progenitor cell line C3H10T1/2. Originally, t hese cells are known to differentiate into myotubes, adipocytes, and c hondrocytes upon the addition of azacytidine. Permanent transfection o f genes encoding human BMP-2 and BMP-4 induces differentiation into th e osteogenic lineage. The osteogenic differentiation potential of C3H1 0T1/2 cells is substantiated by histochemical and genetic analyses of marker genes typical or specific for osteogenesis, including the parat hyroid hormone receptor, alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin, osteonecti n, and osteocalcin, In addition to osteoblast formation, development i nto adipocytes and chondrocytes is also observed, suggesting that BMP- 2 and BMP-4 induce differentiation into three mesenchymal lineages.